Late rally sends ‘Iolani past Punahou

The ‘Iolani Raiders are raising coach Corey Okamura’s stress level.

But with another comeback win, Okamura is smiling again. Sophomore Spencer Oda beat out a slow grounder for an infield single, scoring Karley Devens with the go-ahead run as ‘Iolani rallied from a four-run deficit for a 5-4 win over Punahou on Wednesday at breezy Ala Wai Community Park.

Sixth-ranked ‘Iolani moved to 4-1 in the ILH race, creating some separation from No. 4 Punahou, which slipped to 3-2. 

Taylor Garcia-Perreira was rewarded for her perseverance, going the distance for the win. The senior allowed three earned runs on 10 hits, surviving four errors by her teammates. 

"I just believe in my team. We can do it. We did it before, so I knew we could do it again," said Garcia-Perreira, who fanned one and walked two. "My inside fastball and my curves were working for me. We’ve been practicing a lot because the past two games, they were going right down the middle." 

Okamura was relieved.

"We’ve had three seventh-inning comebacks this year. I’m getting old really quick," he said. "I asked the girls in the fifth inning if we could start a little bit earlier. We were swinging at some bad pitches earlier in the game, so the girls were a little bit more selective. The seniors took it upon themselves to calm everyone down." 

Punahou starting pitcher Nicole Nishizawa allowed just one earned run on five hits in the loss. The junior has some hard-cutting pitches in her arsenal, but she struggled at times to fit them in the strike zone. She struck out three, walked seven and hit two batters. 

Nishizawa had a 4-0 lead entering the bottom of the fifth inning when the Raiders rallied with three walks and four unearned runs to tie the game. After an error by shortstop Krystin Wong, Cassie Ho walked to load the bases. 

Garcia-Perreira stepped to the plate and walked on five pitches, forcing in Brielle Asato from third for the Raiders’ first run. 

"I used to play with Nicole. I knew what to expect from her. I knew her rise was working, but they weren’t calling the high pitches, so she would go with something else," said Garcia-Perreira. 

Alyssa Espiritu followed with an infield single to score Oda, and Kealaulaikalani Gier smacked an opposite-field double to the right-field fence, bringing home Ho and courtesy runner Kayla Seto to tie the game. 

"I was looking for something to drive, hopefully something down the middle or outside so I can bring home the runners on base," Gier said.

In the bottom of the sixth, Devens pulled a 3-1 pitch into the left-field corner for a double. After Asato’s sacrifice bunt, Oda slapped a grounder toward first and beat the throw as Devens came home to give the Raiders their first lead. 

A throwing error by ‘Iolani shortstop Jacy Watanabe allowed Alyssa Rasmussen to reach base with one out, and after Paige Kawai singled to left, Punahou had the go-ahead run on base with two outs. But Shelbie Fujinaga’s sinking line drive in right field was speared by Devens as she went to her knees, ending the game. 

"We played a great game for six innings," Punahou coach Bob Makahilahila said. "We just had one bad inning. For us, we’re a young team that is learning how good we can become. It’s not where we start, but where we finish. We’re going to have these bumps and we have to learn how to overcome it in order for us to become a good team. I wasn’t disappointed. This is part of the learning process we have to go through."

Nicole Nishizawa and Sara Jinee Buck. Taylor Garcia-Perreira and Cassie Ho. W–Garcia-Perreira. L–Nishizawa.

Leading hitters–Punahou: Sarah Sumida 2-4, run; Krystin Wong 1-4, HR, 2 RBI; Paige Kawai 3-4; Shelbie Fujinaga 2-3, double, run. ‘Iolani: Spencer Oda 2-4, RBI, run; Kealaulaikalani Gier 1-2, double, 2 RBI.

No. 3 Kamehameha 14, Pac-five 1

Christine Hipa homered twice and Kamalani Dung struck out 12 batters to lead the Warriors over the Wolfpack.

Kamalani Dung and Rachel Ogasawara. Khailah Kahoano, M. Yoshioka (7) and Karley AnnYoshioka.

W–Dung. L–Kahoano.

Leading hitters–Kam: Christine Hipa 3-5, 2 HRs; Mahina Sauer 3-4, 3b; Hayley Kodama 2-4; Ogasawara 2-3, HR; Kiana Burnett 2b.

No. 5 Maryknoll 16, St. Francis 0, 5 Inn.

Shearyna Labasan pitched a complete two-hitter and struck out eight as the Spartans beat the Saints. 

Shaye Simms and Taiana Creekmur. Shearyna Labasan and Kasey Magdadaro. 

W–Labasan. L–Simms.

Leading hitters–MS: Mylee Enos 2-3, run, 2 RBIs; Labasan 2-4, 3 RBIs; Bree Soma 2-3, 2b, 4 runs, RBI. 

No. 9 Mid-pacific 7, Sacred Hearts 0

Kaili Ann Akimseu pitched a four-hit shutout and struck out seven batters to help the Owls beat the Lancers.

Kaua Huihui-Awa and Jamie Toler. Kaili Ann Akimseu and Taylor Ann Oda. 

W–Akimseu. L–Huihui-Awa.

Leading hitters–SHA: Sordillia 2-3. MPI: Oda 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Lopez 2-3, 2b, RBI; Kawabata 2b, RBI; Onishi 2b, RBI.

OIA RED WEST

Taezha Cordero, Chasity Stalcup (4) and Sage Sanborn. Kristin Frost, Kaaialii (4) and Robi Kami.

W–Cordero. L–Frost.

Leading hitters–Lei: Chenoa Au 3-4, 2b, 3 RBIs; Tiani Cantero 3-5, 2b; 2 RBIs; Sanborn 2-3 2 RBIs. PC: Kami 3-4, 2b, RBI; Makana Kekaulike 3-5, 2 RBIs; Naomi Hernandez Hama 3-5, 4 RBIs.